I stared after him, deep in thought.
“What are you so worried about?” Boot asked.
“I’m not worried about shit,” I told him defensively.
“Do what Nox does with Rox. Make it her idea to back off.”
My face twisted. “What the fuck are you talkin’ about?”
“Let her catch you in a compromisin’ position. That way, it’ll be her idea to take a step back instead of you bein’ the bad guy. Give it a couple of weeks, then send her some flowers, buy her candy, arrange a dinner, and she’ll be eatin’ outta your hand again after some time’s gone by and things have calmed down.”
“That’s a terrible idea,” I muttered. “Ash isn’t Roxanne. She’ll flip.”
“Initially, yeah, but what can she say, really? It’s not like she’s your ol’ lady. You’ve never made any promises or commitments to her. She’ll be angry initially, but you’ll make it right. I can set it up for ya later. Just leave it with me.”
I opened my mouth to tell him to lay off when my ringtone pealed loudly. I looked down at my cell phone and saw it was Breanna’s clinic calling. “Gotta take this.”
Boot slid from his barstool. “I have to organize the prospects anyway. Catch ya later.”
I gave him a nod, our conversation already forgotten as my mind snapped to my phone and whatever the latest disaster could be. Then I clicked the answer button and held my phoneto my ear, my mind bracing as Bree’s nurse began to talk, all thoughts of Bootneck and our chat gone.
—————
I was determinedto get some shut-eye before Aislynn came, but of course, someone upstairs had other plans for me. Breanna had a bad night and had busted her stitches. She’d been taken to the hospital in Nebraska, and I had to sign off on another huge-ass medical bill.
Luckily, I managed to get a quick shower and change my clothes before I went outside to meet her.
It was early April, and spring was well and truly in the air. I had to admit, Wyoming was a beautiful state, but even more so when the snow melted, and the greenery returned. It was a lot different from the scorched, sunbaked vista of California. The melting snow transformed the plains and mountains, and I found that riding, although always good for my soul, brought me a newfound sense of peace.
I found a spot in the shade, put my sunglasses on, and leaned back against the wall of the clubhouse with one knee bent and my boot flat to the wall to wait. It didn’t take long for her Volvo to pull into the parking lot, causing my heart to jerk as I caught sight of her.
Aislynn threw her car door open, and one shapely jean-clad leg appeared, followed by the other. Next came her glorious, long, dark hair, and I felt the corner of my mouth hitch as she stood from the car and turned to face me.
I didn’t move; I couldn’t. I just stood there, gazing at everything she was with my heart beating out of my chest. Hereyes met mine across the parking lot, and her shy smile lit up my world in a way that put the balmy evening sunshine to shame.
God, I’d missed her.
She tossed her incredible hair and began her approach.
I studied her, committing her to memory, ingraining every step she took into my psyche so I could call on it whenever needed, just in case this was the last time I’d see her for a while. God only knew how tonight would go, but I knew that with everything that was going on, I couldn’t give her what she needed. Something had to give, and it couldn’t be my club or my boys, so I had no choice.
“Hey,” she murmured as she approached.
I reached out, grabbed her hand, and tugged her body into mine, my hands immediately sliding over her ass and pulling her against me. I nuzzled my nose against hers and breathed in her clean, soft woody scent, wondering how the fuck I was gonna let her go.
“You wanna get outta here?” I asked, smoothing her hair away from her face and cupping her cheek.
“Yeah,” she replied softly. “Let’s go talk.”
I dropped my hand and rested my forehead against hers, my voice low as I murmured, “It’s good to see you, baby.”
“You too,” she whispered.
I stayed right where I was for a minute, my eyes staring into hers, drinking her in. Then reluctantly, I lifted my head, took her hand, and pulled her toward my bike.
Shit had to be sorted, and there was no time like the present.
—————
